Provide funding to support the construction of a facility that will be used for storage for heavy duty fixed route buses training classroom space maintenance training space and operator breakroom…

On August 22, 2025, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded Connect Transit (Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System) a $23.82 million Project Grant under the Buses and Bus Facilities Formula, Competitive, and Low or No Emissions Programs (CFDA 20.526). The award funds the design, construction, and equipping of a comprehensive Bus Storage and Training and Operations Center located in Illinois that will serve the cities of Bloomington and Normal. The facility will provide dedicated space for heavy-duty fixed-route bus storage, operator training classrooms, maintenance training areas, operator break rooms, and administrative offices to address the organization's outgrown current infrastructure.

Additionally, the grant supports the procurement of heavy-duty fixed-route buses and microtransit vehicles to expand Connect Transit's operational fleet. The project is scheduled for completion by December 31, 2028, and will directly benefit residents of Bloomington and Normal by enabling improved public transit services for commuting, education, medical appointments, and other essential destinations. No sub-awardees are identified for this project.

Purpose

The purpose of this award is to provide funding to support the construction of a facility that will be used for storage for heavy duty fixed route buses training classroom space maintenance training space and operator breakroom and office space. In addition the funding will support the purchase of heavy duty buses and microtransit vehicles.

Activities

Funds will be used to cover the design and construction of the bus storage and training and operations center.funds will be used to cover the bus procurement process for the vehicles.

Expected outcomes

Funding will allow connect transit to construct sufficient space to conduct training and meetings in a much larger setting. In addition IT will allow the expansion of dispatch operations and sufficient operator break space as we have outgrown current space. Also the bus procurement for heavy duty buses and microtransit vehicles will be to extend our fleet.

Intended beneficiaries

Residents of city of bloomington and town of normal and passengers of connect transit will benefit from operating funds by having services needed to get to work school medical appointments and other destinations.